Crewe target youngster Adams

Crewe have made an offer to Ilkeston for highly-rated teenager Che Adams, Sky sources understand.

Adams, a versatile forward, came through the youth set up at Ilkeston but just months into his first full season the 18-year-old has caught the eye of dozens of Football League and Barclays Premier League clubs. Bolton, Norwich and Nottingham Forest are among those from the Championship to have watched Adams, while top-flight sides Burnley, Southampton and Sunderland have regularly scouted the player. League One club Crewe are the first to show their hand for Adams' signature by making a five-figure bid this weekend. "Che is one of a number of players who have emerged from our academy to win regular places in our team, but he's the one who is attracting most interest," said Ilkeston chairman Dave Mantle. "That's hardly surprising because he's been in brilliant form and has been a major force in our promising start to the season. "We think he's a really talented all-round player - an exceptional prospect at our level of the game. "We're an ambitious club, keen to get to Conference North level as quickly as possible, and Che is key to our chances of achieving that this season. "But we have to be sensible and it would be wrong of us to stand in his way if a good opportunity arises for him to move to a higher level." Ilkeston have neither rejected or accepted the offer and it is understood that Crewe's bid remains on the table. The Robins are now bracing themselves for more offers for a youngster who, up until six weeks ago, was on non-contract terms and available for free. It seems inevitable that the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League club will cash in on Adams in January, rather than risk losing him next summer when his contract expires. More than 30 scouts watched Adams score in Ilkeston's last home game against Stamford AFC and representatives from Rangers were among those at St Neots Town on Saturday when the teenager struck his ninth goal of the season in the FA Trophy.